Let’s start with a quote from Mikel.
‘It wasn’t like we had to play them {young players}, because we had enough senior players. We played them because they fully deserved it.’
The most beautiful words I’ve heard all season.
The most beautiful Arsenal.com words of 2020?
INJECT IT RIGHT INTO MY EYES I WON’T EVEN BLINK!
My major concern after the Chelsea game was that Mikel had been pushed into dropping the toxic exChelsea duo by an unlucky covid exposure. That we’d see them return as soon as they were available. Well, it appears they were dropped because they are toxic. There might be something in the stories about the two of them bitching to Edu. It might be the shitty behaviour behind the scenes. It might be Willian’s shit performances in nearly every game. It might be David Luiz trying to shame Mo Elneny on the pitch. Whatever it was, I’m fucking glad it happened.
Phase two of the season starts today. Mikel is placing value in people that want to do the work. His embargoed press conference didn’t just land on ‘the kids done good’, it went to ‘they showed you a glimpse of what I’m trying to do here.’ He spoke of energy, movement, forward momentum, risk. All the things we haven’t been seeing from the senior players.
Now, it’ll mean very little if we play Brighton and lose like we did last time. My hope is that the temptation of complacency is overpowered by a desire to impress. We won’t destroy Potter’s team, they’re too well-coached, but I fully expect all 11 players to be present and to put on a show. This needs to be the 95 minutes that shows the Premier League the Chelsea game wasn’t a fluke.
We have some things going for us. They haven’t won in 5 games. Their last 3 games have been draws, though they have deserved more if I’m honest. We’ve also been lucky enough to have an extra day’s rest, huge at this level.
I don’t know how Arteta is going to think about squad rotation. Right now, it’s probably best to stick with what worked. Saka, Martinelli, ESR were absolutely key to our attacking game. Brighton like possession, just like Chelsea. I know Martinelli has played a lot of games, but damn, it’d be a big call to rest him. Lacazette was very good against Chelsea, he links play well when he has the space to do so, but you wonder if bringing Auba into the mixer would be a good move. Surrounded by 3 energy merchants is exactly what his game has lacked. What I don’t want to see is Nic Pepe on the field again. He’s not it. He offers very little. Our game dips with him in the 11. He’s had enough chances.
Midfield might see some fresh legs. Granit Xhaka will probably land minutes, deserved based on what he did on the last game, and also worth remembering he’s fresher because of his suspension. Mo Elneny had a pretty horrible game against Chelsea (lots of minutes), I’m hoping his place goes to AMN, who offers far more to the attack that Ceballos ever seems to.
The defence has to stay the same. Gabriel is out with covid. Mustafi shouldn’t be anywhere near the first team. Cal Chambers hasn’t had enough games. I worry a little bit about Kieran Tierney. He’s so imperative to our game, and Kola just isn’t a footballer, so he’ll likely play… but at some point, we’re going to have to get real about an RPL for him so we can keep Kieran going.
Tactically, we need to keep things straight-forward again. It was interesting to read Arteta say this after the Chelsea game.
‘We need to make life as clear, as simple, as efficient as possible for the players’
He’s owning the reality about the players he has. His vision of the game is too complex for the now. There’s too much to think about. The controlling nature of his ideas paralysed the players and the output was consistently robotic and uninspired. Giving energy to the frontline gave the midfielders permission to release the ball fast and early. Loosening the positional rules on the forwards gave them permission to improvise and create little pockets of art. Let’s do that again. If we can replicate that against Brighton, we’ll score more open play goals. Arteta’s big learning is that too many rules for creatives kills the joy. Freedom to express was Wenger’s strength and his downfall. Arteta needed to find a middle ground. Structure should be a platform to create in safety, not a bunker to launch occasional sneak attacks from. Planning creativity in a game of chaos is like scripting sex. You don’t do it, unless you’re in the industry, or a freak (which I know many of you are).
What I found very interesting about his prezzer is how chastened he sounded after a pretty exciting win. I suspect he put a lot of energy into crafting that win. He sounded broken, like he’d lost the game 3-0. Clearly, he’s been to some dark places over the past month. Questioned his worth. Doubted his abilities. Probably read a few mean tweets and wondered if he’d ever escape the moment. Well, that’s a good thing. Everyone goes to hell in their job, especially in the early years, the best don’t cave to the bad moments, or blame those around them. They learn their lessons, they make the changes, and they power forward.
Mikel loves this job, he gushes over how much he enjoys being the manager. He loves the club. But he’s made some very, very bad decisions in a structure that lacks proper checks and balances. Today is a chance to move forward, to show that the 2.0 version of our season is going to be better, to prove to the fans he’s the right man to take us forward.
Let’s see what the boys have for us. Hopefully, it’s something special so we can put 2020 behind us. Over to you, Mikel.
P.S. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST RIGHT NOW. Another one coming after the game.
What a player bissouma is btw.
Keep Esr. Ceballos at best at same. Don’t know which ceballos tur s up
FFS bring pepe on.
Guns of SF
Arteta will put his boy in very soon just to spite you
Sensible to take Saka off.
hahaha
AMN needed imo
Long ten y minutes left
Aubameyang is so useless from wing in particular
Hopefully Saka will be ok… Done that a lot of times playing… swells up like a mofo… put some ice on that thing.
Arena telling the boys to sit back?
Don’t know why Ainsley isn’t on. Better defensively
It was obvious Saka was badly hurt. Now Ceballos coming. Why the boy pushed back since Ceballos was already ready to come in.
Criminal
Great cross Joe.
Has there ever been a more precipitous loss of form like what’s happened to Aubameyang?
It’s like he fell off a cliff
I have hardly noticed Mari today.
Auba just needs to start enjoying his football again. Looks like he’s overthinking every touch.
If we are parking the coach best to put Amn on the harass bha
Guns
That’s a good sign for a defender.
Diss-
Yeah I would say it has happened plenty times.. after a player signs a huge contract.. I honestly didn’t think Auba would be like that though.
Brighton’s crossing is a bad as ours thank god
Trying ….ill take i nil to the arsenal…yet we let runs in behind…shakey
What the hell was Esr doing back heel
Imagine if we had Bissouma instead of Elneny or Xhaka.
Stupidest shit from esr right there
I have hardly noticed Mari today.
That is a good thing though. Don’t want CBs doing too much. It means your team weren’t defending.
“ What the hell was Esr doing back heel”
Learning
Amn on for Esr surely
someone said yesterday about Bissouma..
He and TP would be quite good in our middle.
Tigers, instead of the donkeys we have grazing there.
AMN should be starting in cm
Lenos kicking has been woeful all game
We’re not holding onto the ball atm. A bit worrying
Amn stands till o0??
Young players make mistakes. He has done very well though,apart from this moment.
I am happy with ESR playing every week keeps an older bum out
“ What the hell was Esr doing back heel”
Learning
Ding ding!! That is the corrreeeect answeeer!!!
How can Bellerin still running on the 89th minute while Aubameyang is jogging on the half way line.
Why was Saka sent back on? Stupid mistake when the player is injured? Pointless risk to take!
Aubameyang’s pace has truly been a myth since he has been in an Arsenal shirt.
Had idiots saying that he was the fastest player on the planet when we signed him.
Auba can’t even beat a plodder like Webster for pace!!
Again taking off Smith-Rowe, stupid decision.
Smith Rowe was fantastic. Other than that dodgy back heel!! Easy pressure with the way he keeps the ball.
Wtf is up with Auba? Why not support Bellerin there? Twice Bellerin broken through on counter through middle and Laca or Auba not even on screen!
Must be instructions from Tets to Auba as he’s on that touchline.
And wheres our striker on the break…ffs
Gabby should have stayed on and Auba off.
And then to see Laca jog to support Bellerin…. pfff… it does look like we are satisfied to be one up.
The aggressive streak still needs to be worked on with these players.
Legal throw in from Bellerin… two times in a row. 😀
Yep agreed Gaz ESR very tidy indeed
Yea this Auba being fast is something of a myth,
I think cause he is skinny and tall he gives that impression.
He is quick off the line but cannot sustain that speed… it seems.?
5 mins added
The club should just go back to the old Wenger rule
No extensions overlie year for players over 30 years old That ought to stop Edu/Arteta from giving out too many stupid contracts.
We had the option of adding one more year to Auba’s contract
The aggressive streak still needs to be worked on with these players.
Step by step
SAKA 😃 so he should be ok
5 mins… to kill off.
Things are looking up. feels really good.
Where the fk 5 mins come from…at least saka smiln cant hurt to bad
Diss at the time we lost Pires because of that over 30 rule depends on the player for me
Bukayo MoM!!! Fully deserved!!!
I absolutely love this player!!!
Can’t even hold a ball in the corner. Prick.
2 years max though if you are over 30
Attaboy Laca, play the cripple and buy those seconds.
I love saka no home guy just seems like a real humble nice dude despite his bags of talent.
3 min left too long
Bissouma is a beast.
We need a player like this as our DM
Let TP take the B2B role
Pathetic to watch aubameyang in the corner trying to steal few seconds against Brighton, what a joke, arteta out, fuck off
That’s kind of gay London Gunner.
Make a sub waste another min
what’s everyone’s theory about auba why is so shit now
has he lost it over night
is it a lack of service
or is he just not trying
Oh no more sub
Mr Serge
I’ll take losing one good player to signing three duds on three year contracts
It’s to stop these mopes from turning us into a nursing home.
Why Ceballos defending like a lunatic 35 yds from goal.. silly fk to give away.. Come on boys close this out.
Much better 2nd half though
Bissouma Partey would be a million miles from Xhaka Elneny. We would look like a different team.
We are almost a top half team!
👍 xhaka
Corner
Phew
A tired performance from Arsenal overall. Little spark in 90 minutes.
6 points behind Chelsea and Spurs!! Happy New Year lads!
Re Auba it’s likely a combination of lack of service, lack of confidence in his finishing, possible aging and a bit of bad luck.
Diss I was saying the same thing a couple of days ago I agree unless they are already our player no free 32 he olds
No Chelsea rejects
3 points off top half!
👍 job, team
Arena out
Edu out.
Brighton doing that fake corner taker trick. I honestly don’t get the point of it.
We are at 20 points
Halfway to the promised land 😁😁😁
Alright… boys… 2 in a row.. Fat Sam up next.
My theory is that auba is a mercenary who signed on to the team who were offering the most money, unfortunately that was us. You can talk about the system, but that doesn’t mean you don’t put the effort in. He is another overpaid mistake we can I’ll afford to carry.
Cmon ref…yes 1 nil to the arsenal
Fucking yes
ESR played really well
Subs have been spot on for a change
Saka again was the difference , and Laca took his goal very well I have to say!
Auba needs to find his shooting boots
Midfield remains our Achilles’ heel along with Arteta of course
All about getting the points on board right now, in that context this is a huge win, pretty or not.
Well done boys. Keep the same starting XI for the next game.
Wenger eagle
“Possible ageing “
Really
Much better second half. Hard work at the end but much required 6p from two games. Hope Saka’s injury is not a bad one
Clean sheet.
Woow
Well thank God. Away from the relegation zone. Need some spine in midfield and I think we can move forward.
GET IN LADS!!!
Arteta buying himself even more time.
Difficult game really, good result though. I’ll take it.
We clearly need new CMs the most. Bissouma would be a good addition to the side for sure.
If only we could get Grealish in the summer too. This team needs some real quality, proven in the PL.
3 points, up we move. Auba shouldn’t be an automatic starter in this team
Now lets shut up Big fat sam.
Poor first half. Second half was much better. Should have been 2-0 but for some bad decision making.
Team started to function with Laca.
Looks like it becomes Laca or Auba as we know and not both, currently Laca is the guy to play.